Savannah Hostetter Benac, a partner at Shackelford, McKinley & Norton, and her husband, Dylan Benac, a corporate lawyer in Bracewell’s Houston office, found a rare opportunity to work together professionally on a pro bono matter for a client they care deeply about. The litigator and deals lawyer helped lead a real estate transaction that allowed Radiate Coalition to acquire a seven-acre property near Houston valued at approximately $2.5 million, which the nonprofit plans to redevelop into a transitional home for girls aging out of the Texas foster care system.
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In Texas Business Court’s First Jury Trial, Litigants Overcame a Flood and Five Courtroom Changes
At 7:04 a.m. Feb. 11, about two-and-a-half hours before testimony was set to resume in the first jury trial in the Texas Business Court, Judge Sofia Adrogué received a text message from a bailiff.
“Good morning Judge,” Deputy James Williams’ text began. “Hate to bring you bad news this morning. …”
The trial, intended to showcase the new court, suddenly became an exercise in crisis management. This is the behind-the-scenes story of the court’s inaugural jury trial that was filled with other unexpected firsts.
Asked & Answered with Hilgers’ David Sillers: Defamation, AI & Asylum
In this edition of Asked & Answered, Hilgers partner David Sillers talks about his First Amendment practice and shares his most memorable moments in his career so far. Sillers recently joined the firm and reunited with managing partner Grant Schmidt and partner Cynthia Schmidt, whom he met while clerking alongside them for former U.S. District Judge Barbara M.G. Lynn.
CECO Environmental, Thermon Group Merge in $2.2B Cash, Stock Deal
CECO Environmental Corp. and Thermon Group Holdings announced an agreement to merge in a stock and cash transaction valued at about $2.2 billion.
Gibson Dunn and Sidley advised on the deal.
Judge: Plano Surgeon Sentenced to 8.5 Years ‘More Involved’ Than Admitted in $196 Million Scam
A federal judge sentenced a Plano orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Michael Taba, to 8.5 years in prison for his role in one of the biggest healthcare fraud cases in Texas history that prosecutors said bilked the U.S. government out of nearly $200 million through unnecessary compound drug prescriptions.
U.S. District Judge Sam A. Lindsay handed down the sentence on Tuesday in Dallas after a jury convicted Taba more than two years ago of conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud and three counts of aiding and abetting healthcare fraud.
Litigation Roundup: Exxon Gets SCOTUS Review in Climate Change Litigation
In this edition of Litigation Roundup, the U.S. Supreme Court on Monday granted a petition for writ of certiorari that Exxon Mobil and Suncor filed more than six months ago that could have a major impact on climate-change litigation the oil companies are facing nationwide. We also provide details on a San Antonio investment company executive who copped to a nearly $70 million Ponzi scheme and a wrongful death lawsuit against Valero stemming from a refinery fire.
Families of 9 Who Died in July 4 Camp Mystic Flood Sue DSHS
The families of nine Camp Mystic campers and counselors who died in the July 4 flood last summer filed a lawsuit Monday morning in the Western District of Texas against the Texas Department of State Health Services, claiming the agency should not have approved the camp’s license. The camp’s license expires next week, and it has announced it will reopen this summer.
Dallas-based Home Health and Hospice Care Provider Enhabit Going Private
Dallas-based Enhabit Inc. announced Monday that it agreed to be acquired by Kinderhook Industries, a middle market private equity firm, in a cash deal with a disclosed enterprise value of about $1.1 billion.
Jones Day and Kirkland & Ellis advised on the deal.
Axip Energy Hires V&E to Lead Chapter 11
The Houston-headquartered natural gas compression company that focuses primarily in the Permian Basin states in court documents that it has $240 million in liabilities, but that it has agreed to divest most of its assets to Service Compression of Fort Worth.
New DOJ Rule Makes Immigration Judge Decisions Final in Most Cases
A significant regulatory change by the U.S. Department of Justice is quietly reshaping how immigration decisions become final within the nation’s removal adjudication system. Under a new rule, most appeals from immigration judge decisions to the Board of Immigration Appeals will no longer receive routine appellate review. The rule has immediate relevance for Texas practitioners, courts, and policymakers.